Economics degree- good idea or not?

[greyvix]

DS is thinking of economics. He is quite science orientated, doing Maths, Physics and Biology for A2. He thinks that Economics will open career doors. Is this true or not? He also fancies Law, but is undecided. There is no subject he is passionate about; though he is pretty able (hoping for As or A*), he doesn't have a love of learning at the moment. I hope it'll come!

I'd enquire as to what career doors would be opened which might give a clue as to where he sees himself

My nephew did economics. He is clever and found it so hard that he took a year out mid course. He has done incredibly well career wise since.

My understanding is that, if interested in law as a career, they don't need to have a law degree (I've even read that law isn't particularly seen as a good option).

DS did economics (he was also quite science orientated at school) and is now on a good grad scheme which will hopefully lead to a well paid job in finance. It is a hard course but can lead to a wide variety of careers besides finance as it is so broad-based.

BackforGood, I think that applies if you're doing Law 'A' level and wanting to do a Law degree. But if you want to become a lawyer, a law degree is generally the norm (although conversion courses are available).

I'm doing Economics as a mature student and about to begin my third year.

It still seems to be a respected degree subject and will be an entry into all manner of career choices.

Economics is a great degree - good for careers in business, policy making, consulting.

IME it uses the same kind of thinking skills as the physical sciences, but can be more appealing and interesting as a subject and career path than the work of science, because it is "big picture" and linked to human interest questions, where scoence in practice tends to involve a very micro focus on one bit of the puzzle.

Has he read/ studied any economics, or is he just attracted by the career prospects?

Economics is good. Yes to a good mix of micro, macro, maths and some law. Did it ages ago but my friends and I found it best to stick to the more rigorous subjects within it.

Thanks for the replies. I will pass on the info, though it is interesting/ worrying that I am doing the research, not him!

DS1 has a BSc and MSc in economics. He has found it very easy to get well paid jobs in business analysis/economics. He's now about to work as a development economist, the other side of the world (and has a guaranteed job offer waiting for him in the UK on his return).

Good news. Let's hope he gets on a course now. Any views on law, and whether it is comparable in terms of career prospects?

Economics is a very good degree to do for business/finance/civil service/lots of things

If he wants to be a lawyer he can do the Graduate Diploma in Law - I did it. An economics degree will be very attractive to corporate law firms, and if he got a first or a good 2.1 he would probably be able to get one of those to sponsor him. Law firms can be quite picky about universities so I would advise him to try and get into one on this list

It is a bit of a snob thing but people often use 'Russell Group' as a shorthand to mean 'respectable uni'. Not totally essential but it is useful.

The 1994 group are also respectable - Bath, Reading, Royal Holloway, Essex, Sussex, SOAS, Goldsmiths, Surrey, Loughborough etc

Thanks for all the advice; it has been really helpful.

My son has just started Economics and Management course at uni and did Physics maths and History at A2 (Politics AS)

Yes defo would be better to be Russell or 1994 group. The degrees vary for example Bristol Economics (Uni not UWE) is very mathematical and shares common ground with the finance dept. Some of these unis have their own Business school (building) some call it this but are virtual ie course chosen from a variety of depts.

Personally I think it's a great degree choice but some of the courses may require or prefer a humanities subject too - although I am sure the more mathematical ones don't. Need to look into the subject requirements - I think maybe the only required one is Maths.

Nothing wrong with doing the research for them - I did for all 4 of mine.

There is a bewildering choice available and they won't know anything about the distinction between one of the above unis and all the others. It is not just snob value - the grade requirements are higher so a first at one of the more recent unis is not the same as a first from Russell or 1994. I made sure all mine went to one of these.